Combination greeting card and gift assembly

ABSTRACT

An improved greeting card and gift combination assembly is provided, wherein the gift is preferably a candle. The assembly comprises a greeting card, a candle, and a transparent packaging that contains and protects the candle, and positions the candle adjacent to the front surface of the card. Both the card and the candle have artwork and/or messages thereon, wherein they complement and complete each other to form a “two-layer” artwork and/or message. Demands for attractiveness, ease of display at the point of sale, simplicity of comprehension and use by the customer, economical cost of product, and low mailing cost are achieved.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to a combination greeting card and gift assembly, and more particularly, to a combination greeting card and candle assembly that provides “two-layer,” complementary artwork and/or messages on the card and candle elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Greeting cards are, of course, well known and old in the art. They have been sent on many diverse occasions for many decades. The giving of gift items on such occasions is also well known. Consequently, it is known in the art to provide a gift item combined with a greeting message, or a greeting card with a small gift item attached. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,275 discloses a greeting card including a removable, transparent receptacle for a gift, or a token of affection such as a flower. U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,298 discloses a greeting card adapted to serve as a gift wrapping for a garment, especially a T-shirt. U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,665 B1 discloses a combination greeting card box and gift tie, in which the combination can be used as both a shipping box and a point of sale display for the box and gift tie.

[0003] The present invention in its preferred embodiment, embodies a novel combination greeting card and candle which is highly simple and lightweight in construction, easy to display at the point of sale, economical to produce and purchase, and highly simple for the customer to understand and use. In addition, unlike the prior art, the invention provides an attractive layering of complementary artwork and/or messages on the card and the candle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In accordance with the invention, an improved combination greeting card and gift assembly is provided. In the preferred embodiment, the gift is a candle. In addition to displaying the candle, the greeting card complements the candle's artwork and/or message to form an overall, attractive design and message that complements the entire assembly. This concept is suitable for many types of occasions by combining a candle as a gift, with an appropriate greeting, and possibly also having all of the elements tied together with appropriate, complementary artwork.

[0005] The combination item of the preferred embodiment comprises a greeting card and candle, in which the greeting card and candle both have artwork and/or messages that complement each other to produce a complete, double layering of artwork, or a double layering of artwork and a message and/or a double layering of messages. For example, the artwork and/or message on the greeting card will be in the background of the assembly when viewed by the purchaser and/or the recipient, while the complementary artwork and/or message on the candle will be displayed in the foreground; i.e., on the surface of the candle.

[0006] The images are enclosed in a clear packaging that allows for quick and easy display of the entire item. The item can easily be displayed at its point of sale, so that it is visible entirely without the need for opening any box, card or other manner of display known in the art.

[0007] Due to its simple, postcard-like construction, the entire item is both economical (both in production and to the consumer), and simple for the customer to understand. In addition, in the preferred embodiment, the reverse side of the card is conveniently accessible for the easy addition of the sender's handwritten message, without the need for opening a folded card or box. However, it is to be understood that the use of such a “folded-card” type construction is also anticipated in the invention. Specifically, it is anticipated that instead of being a flat, two-sided card, the greeting card element of the assembly could, in fact, be a regular-type folded card assembly. In such a construction, it is also anticipated that a manner of preventing the card from unfolding while on display, would exist.

[0008] The entire item, whether encompassing the flat card shown in the preferred embodiment herein, or the above discussed folded card-type construction, can be placed in an envelope and, due to its light weight and compact design, be mailed at a relatively low postage rate.

[0009] In yet another possible embodiment, it is anticipated that the item could be used in a postcard-type manner without the need for a separate envelope, by affixing the sender's message, recipient's address, and postage, all on the opposite side of the card from the candle, for the flat card embodiment. Further, for the folded, card-type configuration, the message would presumably be placed on the inside of the folded card (out of sight to prying eyes), while the stamp and recipient's address would be on the front of the card.

[0010] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved combination greeting card and gift assembly.

[0011] It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved combination greeting card and gift assembly, wherein the gift is a candle.

[0012] It is another object of the invention to provide an improved combination greeting card and gift assembly that displays a novel “two-layers” of artwork and/or messages.

[0013] Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved combination greeting card and gift, which can simply and easily be displayed and understood by the customer, and which is simple for the customer to use.

[0014] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a combination item which is relatively economical to produce and in the price for the ultimate consumer, and which is simple to mail at a relatively low postage rate.

[0015] Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the following description.

[0016] The invention accordingly comprises an article possessing the features, properties and relation of elements which will be exemplified in the product hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be dictated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018]FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of the invention;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the artwork and message on the candle and greeting card elements of the subject invention;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the candle element of the subject invention removed for use from the packaging;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the clear packaging of the subject invention;

[0022]FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the greeting card element of the subject invention; and

[0023]FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the greeting card element of the subject invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] As is shown in the figures, the invention relates to a combination greeting card and gift assembly. In particular, the greeting card and gift combination has a greeting card 10, a candle 20, and clear packaging 30.

[0025] Appropriate artwork and/or message 11 is printed on the greeting card 10. Complementary artwork and/or message 21 is also printed on the candle 20. The artwork/message on both the candle 20 and the greeting card 10, respectfully seen in the figures as 21 and 11, complete and complement each other to provide an attractive, “two-layering” of artwork and/or message. In its preferred embodiment, the theme of the artwork and/or message 11 on the greeting card is displayed in the background, while the complementary artwork and/or message 21 on the candle is displayed in the foreground.

[0026] It is anticipated by the invention that other gift items besides a candle may also be used. For example, the “gift” may be a candle containing a “finding” (not shown), such as a small piece of jewelry; presumably hidden within the body of the candle. The “finding” would be released when the candle is melted to a certain level. The artwork and/or messages on the card and candle would be suggestive of the “finding.” Other possible “gifts” include, but are not limited to, soaps in various shapes and appropriate sizes with or without similar inclusions, potpourri (presumably of the solid type), change purses, fortune cookies or display novelty items with fluid centers and floating items inside, where the floating items and fluid color complement the artwork and/or messages on the card.

[0027] Card 10 and candle 20, as well as their respective artwork and/or messages 11 and 21, are enclosed in a transparent packaging 30. The packaging 30 is made of a molded transparent plastic, such as polyethylene tetraphthalate (PET) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), but other and various types of packaging, known in the art, are also anticipated herein.

[0028] In the embodiment of the invention shown, the packaging 30 has a molded shell 31, which contains and protects the candle 20 and positions it adjacent to the front surface of the greeting card 10. The packaging has an opening 32 at the top to allow the entire item to easily and simply be displayed in a standard hanging manner known in the industry. This means for displaying the item allows the customer to view the entire item without the need to open any box or folded card. It is understood that any other display means known in the art is also usable, as long as the entire item is easily viewable by the customer. It is also to be understood that the invention is meant to cover any shape of candle 20, and associated shell 31.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 4, the packaging 30 leaves the back surface of the card easily accessible for the handwriting of the sender's message, again without the need to open any folded card or box. This is accomplished by narrow flaps 33 of the packaging that fold over and enclose the bottom and side edges of the card 10, leaving the majority of the back surface area of the card 10 unenclosed. During assembly of the item, these narrow flaps 33 allow for the insertion and retainment of the greeting card 10 into the packaging 30, after the placement of the candle 20 into the shell portion 31. As shown in FIG. 6, the back surface of the card 10 may have lines and spaces 12 for a handwritten message.

[0030] With the above described simple design, the entire item can be shipped, enclosed in a separate, standard envelope, at a relatively low postage rate due to the light weight of the assembly. In another possible embodiment, the back surface of the card 10 may be used in a postcard-type manner, with this area having affixed to it a message, recipient's address, and postage, and without the need for a separate envelope.

[0031] It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the sphere and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

[0032] It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination greeting card and gift assembly, comprising: a card member having a first side having artwork or a message, or a combination of artwork and messages thereon; a gift having artwork or a message, or a combination of artwork and messages thereon; and substantially transparent packaging for said assembly, comprising means for receiving and removably retaining said card member, wherein said gift is positioned within said packaging, and said card member is positioned within said receiving means, so that said artwork, message and/or combination thereof on said card member is in complementary orientation with said artwork, message and/or combination thereof on said gift to form an overall image or theme for said combination greeting card and gift assembly.
 2. A combination greeting card and gift assembly as recited in claim 1, said receiving means comprising a plurality of flaps extending from said packaging, so as to releasably enclose at least two side edges of said card member.
 3. A combination greeting card and gift assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said packaging leaves a portion of a second surface of said card member unenclosed and accessible for a handwritten message, said second surface of said card member oriented on an opposite side of said card member to said first side.
 4. A combination greeting card and gift assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said packaging has means for displaying said assembly.
 5. A combination greeting card and gift assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein said means for displaying said assembly is an aperture extending through said packaging at a top area of said packaging.
 6. A combination greeting card and gift assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said gift is a candle.
 7. A combination greeting card and gift assembly, comprising: a card member having a first side having artwork or a message, or a combination of artwork and messages thereon and a second side for receipt thereon of a writing by a sender of said assembly; a gift having artwork or a message, or a combination of artwork and messages thereon; substantially transparent packaging for said assembly, comprising means for receiving and removably retaining said card member so that said first side of said card member is visible through said substantially transparent packaging, and wherein said gift is positioned within said packaging so that said artwork or said message, or said combination of artwork and messages on said gift is visible through said substantially transparent packaging; wherein when said card member is received within said receiving means, a portion of said second surface of said card member is for receipt thereon of said writing.
 8. A combination greeting card and gift assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said gift is positioned within said packaging, and said card member is positioned within said receiving means, so that said artwork, message and/or combination thereof on said card member is in complementary orientation with said artwork, message and/or combination thereof on said gift to form an overall image or theme for said combination greeting card and gift assembly.
 9. A combination greeting card and gift assembly as recited in claim 8, said receiving means comprising a plurality of flaps extending from said packaging, so as to releasably enclose at least two side edges of said card member.
 10. A combination greeting card and gift assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein said packaging has means for displaying said assembly.
 11. A combination greeting card and gift assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein said means for displaying said assembly is an aperture extending through said packaging at a top area of said packaging.
 12. A combination greeting card and gift assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said gift is a candle. 